Media conference notes:
Fauci, Redfield, Azar, Pence, Hahn on podium.
Trump:
Some comments about Afghanistan.....
Thanking health professionals on podium and those behind the scenes.
Coronavirus - "A tough one"
22 patients currently, 1 person died - late 50s. 4 others are very ill.
Additional cases are likely.
Healthy people should be able to recover.
Admin has taken aggressive action. On Jan 31 imposed travel restrictions.
China numbers are "way down".
US is #1 destination in world and have less cases than other less traveled countries.
Monday meeting with pharma heads to discuss vaccines.
43 million masks and a lot more are coming.
There was a corona task force meeting in White House about coronavirus situation.
US is prepared for any circumstance.
Asking the media, politicians not to incite a panic.
Thanking governors and representatives for rooms. speed of actions, etc.
Pence:
Condolences to family of woman who died and those who are in ICU.
Task force met this morning and:
1) Add additional travel restrictions on Iran travelers
2) Level 4 - Do not travel to specific regions in Italy and South Korea.
3) Medical screenings for people wanting to leave Italy to travel to America.
We are all in this together.
Working closely with congress for more money for coronavirus.
Additional medical supplies...average American does not need to buy a mask. Need to protect medical providers. Contracted with 3M for 35 million masks per month. And working on guidances for PPE. Making certain HCW have supplies needed to do job safely.
All hands on deck.
Azar:
Condolences to family of woman who died.
Risk remains low for average American but this can change rapidly.
Always said there will be more cases. For the vast majority of people, their symptoms will be mild.
Medically fragile people may require hospitalization.
Want to lower the level of travel to and from the most severely affected areas.
Fauci:
Condolences to family of woman who died.
Doing contact tracing. Country as a whole still remains at low risk but this is an evolving situation.
Prevented travel from China to the US. Kept cases lower in the US.
Try and keep US citizens from going to places with active infection.
Doing public health measures to contain.
Do not be surprised about additional measures.
All resources will be put to use.
Redfield:
Condolences to family of woman who died.
Will see more cases and clusters. Will do the usual contact tracing etc.
Current risk to American public remains low.
Is this a hoax? Trump: No.
Flow of info? Fauci being muzzled? Trump: Fauci has never been muzzled.
Fauci says he has never been muzzled.
Southern border closure? Trump: Looking at this strongly.
Should Americans change routine? Redfield: We should be going on with our regular lives.
Trump says responsibility to get the best people in the world. (also taking action on travel earlier).
Pattern of mortality and morbidity? Fauci...75-80% doing well....15% ish need care...elderly and/or have chronic conditions have worse situation....there is always a one off where someone is serious or dies out of the normal pattern.
Afghanistan questions and remarks....
Trump: Some measures that China has done are considered for the US.
Woman who died caught coronavirus from community spread.
Mexico? Trump: Great relationship...thinking about all borders...Southern border is not much of a problem in this regard right now.
Trade deal comments....
Afghanistan comments....
Financial impact? "Good. About time." for Fed action. "Our Fed should be a leader and not a follower." (Wants lower interest rates.)
(Missed Hahn comment).
Pence making remarks about previous disease experiences as governor of Indiana.
Turkey/Syria question....
Trump: The markets will come back. This problem (Covid-19) needs to be brought in focus. Safety & health are number one. Markets will come back. Focus is on current disease situation. Wants the Fed "to do its job",
Trump: "Always good to be prepared" response to a question about people buying hand sanitizers, etc. clearing out shelves...
Trump: Will keep everyone abreast.
Travel to Washington ok? Azar: Yes.
